Phillies: Three Breakout Candidates for 2020 Season
By Bryce Turner
We take a look at three Philadelphia Phillies who could surprise fans with a breakout season.
The Philadelphia Phillies and manager Joe Girardi have their hands full this time of year as decisions loom regarding the make-up of the 40-man roster and who will get the chance to prove themselves off the bench or out of the bullpen.
Before the casting call known as spring training reaches a close, we take a look at three potential sleepers who could have a breakout season in 2020.
Deivy Grullon
Catcher Deivy Grullon is a Phillie who could have a breakout season after performing well the past couple of years in the minors.
In 2018, he had 21 HR, 59 RBI and a .273/.310/.515 slash line in 90 games at AA Reading.
That same year, he knocked 25 homers over two rounds to win the Eastern League Home Run Derby.
Last season, he moved up to AAA Lehigh Valley, where he recorded 21 HR, 77 RBI and a .283/.354/.496 slash line in 108 games.
Grullon made his major league debut in late September with the Phillies and had just one hit in nine plate appearances, but that hit was an RBI double.
Through his first six games of spring training, he has three hits, including one home run and five RBIs, over 14 plate appearances.
With Andrew Knapp expected to back up J.T. Realmuto, it’s unclear how many major league opportunities Grullon will get.
Given his strong performance in AA and AAA, he has the potential to show noticeable improvement and surprise some fans when he gets his opportunity with the major league squad this season.